Page Links Test Page: A thorough comparison of the 6 top online consignment and resale shops: Who will give you the most for that NWT handbag?
Who here has wanted to consign or resale clothes but just didn’t know which service was the best, who would make it easiest, or even where to start? The Real Real? Vestiaire? Poshmark? Tradesy? threadUp? I don’t know either!
But it’s time.
Soon after reading Christina’s excellent post on whether the Marie Kondo Konmari method of tidying is good for families, I took on my frighteningly overstuffed closet. Friends? This system is the first that ever worked for me.
I realized how many clothes and accessories I was hanging onto for sentimental reasons — not because they fit (or uh, ever would again). The result, besides a much cleaner, more manageable closet, was a number of bags of clothing and accessories in very good condition that might give someone else joy.
The thing is, a lot of those clothes are still (sigh) sitting in my basement while I figure out what to do with them. So I’ve done some investigating with a lot of help from Kate, and we’ve tracked down the best options for selling your used clothes on the top consignment and online resale sites depending on what you’re looking to sell.
We’ve tried to break down the online consignment shop comparisons with:
-The overall experience
-The pros and the cons
-The kinds of items you’ll find on the site
-Commission fees you can expect to pay
-What happens to items that don’t sell
-How the items shop
-Overall, who the site is best for
As I recently learned, the average person has 52 items around the house — or $4,000 worth! — that they don’t use and could easily resell. Wow.
So what are you all waiting for? -Liz + Kate
Top image: Tradesy
This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you join a site, we get a small commission.Â
Related: Is Stitch Fix worth it? Two brutally honest she said/she said reviews from two of our editors
The Real Real:Â The Overview
I’ve bought a few items at The Real Real, which resells top-notch designer brand clothing, accessories, jewelry and home goods.
For both buyers and sellers, the environment is clean and high-end. They do the pricing and thorough photos themselves and have the right to offer discounts if they choose — but don’t expect to find tag sale prices here.
All this comes at a price: Relatively high commissions of 30–40% paid by the seller.
If you have then or more qualifying items in excellent condition, you can get free in-home pickup (in 21 cities) or a free label to mail them in. They do all the photographing, authentication (no fake LV bags!), and pricing, and have it online in 10–15 days.
Plus, the site claims that most items sell within three days. And when you consign for the first time, you can get a site credit up to $100.
They will return any item they can’t accept, however if they determine them to be counterfeit, they destroy them. I really appreciate that.
Great find:Â Chloe Leather Shoulder Bag in good condition, $95
Now, that said, I have heard complaints from sellers about The Real Real that go beyond pickiness; my own mother reminds me that they refused several of her perfectly clean, brand new, 100% unworn designer items (Burberry, Armani) without explanation….WHAT?
From the shopper side, when I tried to return a purchase a mere two days after the deadline (I had been traveling when it arrived), they were like, too bad so sad you’re SOL, but you can resell it with us at a 40% loss. Yes, I was late, but I find most companies’ customer service is more considerate and flexible if you’re nice, and it did leave me with a bad taste in my mouth — even if I do still browse the site for affordable designer finds.
The Real Real:Â The Nitty Gritty
Sweet finds: Prada wool coat with fur trim for $395; Burberry wool trench for $475; 3.1 Phillip Lim clutch for $145; Hermes Evelyn Crossbody bag for $2,100; Gucci Canvas Loafers for $125; Yeezy Military Boots $220-260
Site Commission: If your net sales are under $1,500, you earn 55% commission. Net sales under $1,500-$10,000, earn 60% commission. Net sales over $10,000 earn 70% commission. Shipping your items to them is free.
If your items don’t sell: After 30 days, you can request return of your items, and pay for the shipping. If you’d like it back sooner, you pay an addition $15 per item.
Who it’s best for: People with high-end designer items in truly excellent condition, ideally over $10,000 worth, so you don’t pay 40% commission.
Related: How to create a capsule wardrobe for kids. Even kids obsessed with their clothes.
I never thought twice about diapering my son with the eco-not-so-conscious disposable diaper. I have to admit, I thought that cloth diapers were still big cotton towels that required safety pins, manual dexterity, and a whole lot of free time.
Don’t get any sick ideas, dear readers. We’ve all seen our share of those softies and we certainly don’t need a stuffed one of THOSE laying around the house. 
When my 3 year old was a newborn we planned a trip to Europe and before I could say auf viedersehn, my brain pictured all the filthy traveling potties we would encounter while changing her diaper.